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In this issue
Jane Strauss Speaking at PTA Meeting This Week
Dinner with the Family at Jason's Deli
Science Night
Flat Screens Needed
Ready! Set! Have Fun! at the Fun Fair
Box Tops for Education
Get Your Yearbook!
The Library Needs You!!
Dr. Garza at McLean HS
Friends of Chesterbrook
Summer Quest
Directory Updates
Special Education Resources
Thank Your For the Winter Coats!!
Girls on the Run
FCPS Summer Camps
MCA Looking for Volunteers
Quick Links
Join Our Mailing List
Like us on Facebook
Business Friends

 
JD Callendar 2012 image  
JD Callander

Contact
friends@chesterbrookpta.org 
if interested in becoming a Friend for the 2013-2014 school year. 
FAQs
Question: Can I bring some neighbors to the Fun Fair? They do not go to Chesterbrook so I was not sure if it was appropriate to bring them or not.

Answer:  Yes, please bring them!  While the Fun Fair is a wonderful event that brings our school together for a day of fun, it is also a fundraiser so the more people that come to the Fun Fair, the more money we can raise.  Bring the neighbor's kid, bring your nephew, bring your visiting in-laws ... the more the merrier!!

 

Chesterbrook PTA Digest

No.11, February 10, 2014      

 

While the weather continues to keep everyone bundled up and dreaming of warm summer days on the beach, unfortunately, those days are still a ways off.  But, you can make the time fly by getting involved with your PTA.  Come to the meeting this week to hear Jane Strauss and consider getting more involved in the PTA next year (the nominating committee for next year is being formed now!!).  There is lots going on so please read on and consider how you can help your PTA!!

Upcoming events:
  • PTA Meeting (Jane Strauss discussing budget): Feb 11, 7:30 pm
  • Principal's Coffee: Feb 12, 9-10 am  
  • Restaurant Night - Jason's Deli: Feb 12, 5-10 pm   
  • Eric Energy - Valentine's Science Spectacular: Feb 14, 6-8 pm
  • Custodian Appreciation Week: Feb 23
  • Read Across America: March 3 
  • Conversation with Dr. Garza: March 4, 7 pm  
  • Family Bingo: March 7, 6-8 pm  
  • PTA Meeting: March 11, 8:45 am 

 

PTA Meeting February 11 with Guest Speaker
Chesterbrook PTA We encourage everyone to join us for tomorrow's PTA meeting (Tuesday, February 11) at 7 pm in the cafeteria and hear guest speaker Jane Strauss, our Dranesville District School Board Representative, discuss issues facing FCPS and the School Board, including the 2014-2015 budget.
Have Dinner with the Family AND Help the PTA
Come join your friends for dinner!!

Where: Jason's Deli, 7505 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, (703)448-5514

WhenWednesday, February 12, 2014, 5:00pm to 10:00pm

WhatJason's Deli will donate 15% of your order to Chesterbrook's PTA

 

Bring the whole family to Jason's Deli in Tysons on Wednesday, February 12th any time between 5 pm and 10pm for a great family dinner.  See Jason's Deli website for menu information.  Give this flyer 

to the cashier when you place your order or when you pick up a take out order.  Jason's Deli will keep a copy of your receipt as proof of the purchase and to tally Chesterbrook's sales for the night. 

 

PLEASE NOTE, no flyers may be handed out in or around the restaurant during the event, so please print the flyer and bring it with you!! 

 

Contact Jennifer Ruggiero with any questions and please come support the PTA!! 

Family Science Night
graphic-heart.gif Do You Love Science?  

Then come see Eric Energy at Chesterbrook PTA's Valentine's Day Science Spectacular.  Eric Energy brings scientific concepts to young audiences through live, interactive, hands-on science shows.  He's coming to the Chesterbrook Elementary School Cafeteria Friday, February 14.  Please arrive at 6:30 for a 6:45pm start.  It's a one hour show.  This is not a drop off event.  For more information you can check out Eric Energy's website  or email Joy Molony.
Flatscreen TVs Still Needed
Did you receive, or treat yourself to, a new smart TV over the holidays, and are you now wondering where to put your old flat screen TV? Or did you already have an old flat screen TV sitting unused in the corner?  If so, please considering donating your old TV to our school! Our morning news media room is still using some old bulky tube TV sets to display pictures and scripts. It would be wonderful to replace them with a few flat screen TVs. We need three flat screen TVs between 32" and 40"  and three 17" to 20" flat screen Analog TVs or monitors that have white/red/yellow color inputs (also called RCA input).

Don't worry about transport. If it would be difficult for you to bring your old TV to school, our PTA volunteers would be happy to pick it up. Should you have any questions or like to schedule a pickup, please contact Fenny Hurwitz.
Ready! Set! Have Fun! at the Annual Fun Fair!!
Ready! Set! Have Fun! The annual Chesterbrook Fun Fair is approaching quickly and it is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner.  Be sure to mark your calendars for Saturday, March 15th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and look for an eblast later this week for details on tickets, raffles, donations, and volunteers! If you have questions in the meantime, please contact Jennifer Von Elm and Hope Perlish at [email protected].
Box Tops for Education
Box Tops Scissors Our winter is moving right along and the spring deadline for Box Tops collection is Friday, Feb. 21st.  If you haven't done so already, please start collecting your Box Tops and drop them off before the deadline.  The drop off container is across from the school Media Center.

Each coupon is worth ten cents to our school and it quickly adds up.  Participation in this school fundraiser couldn't be easier!  

Do you have a 6th grader or a child in middle or high school who needs community service hours?  We need lots of help trimming the coupons to prepare them for packaging and mailing. If interested, please contact Susie French. Thank you in advance for your support!
Order Your Yearbooks Now!!
Get the early discount and order your 2013-2014 Chesterbrook Yearbooks with our new online system.  To order online, just go to the Chesterbrook PTA website.    We have sold 210 books online so far and there are only 2 more weeks to get discounted price!  Hurry!!

 

Library Volunteers Needed

The library is still in great need of volunteers to help shelve books.  With over 600 students, there are hundreds of library books returned each day. It's a great way to find new books for your children and see what everyone else is reading. Ideally, two volunteers are needed each Tuesday through Friday and one volunteer is needed on Mondays. You can come in any time during your scheduled period.   

 

If you haven't volunteered in the library yet, please contact Robin Birchfield to set up a quick tutorial session. Please sign up for as many slots as you can using this Sign Up Genius .Thanks to all the great volunteers who have helped so much this year! 
Dr. Garza to Speak at McLean HS
 The McLean Citizens Association (of which Michele Pearce is a board member) has scheduled a "Conversation with Dr. Garza" on March 4, 7:00 pm, at McLean HS in the Lecture Hall.  

March 4 is a great time to ask budget-related questions, especially since by March FCPS should have a pretty good idea about how much state funding it will receive for FY 2015, which is likely to exceed the amount assumed in the FY 2015 Advertised Budget.  In addition, FCPS may have published a regulation to help address class size issues by then, which Dr. Garza has discussed at numerous School Board work sessions and other meetings.

Please come and be a part of these important discussions and for more details, please see the flyer!

Friends of Chesterbrook
With the Online Auction on hiatus this year, this is one of Chesterbrook PTA's primary means to support important academic and school support needs. We ask for everyone's support of $100 per family to reach our goal, but your gift of any size is appreciated. Check out all our donors so far! We can also help determine whether your company participates in a program to match employee donations.
 
Businesses that donate $500 to our "Business Friends of Chesterbrook" program will be recognized on our website and in other ways at school. For more information visit our website and click on the "Become a Business Friend" tab.

There are two easy ways to give:
  • You can donate online on our website: Family Friends or Business Friends.
  • You can donate by check. Please make checks payable to "Chesterbrook PTA" and forward to school via backpack mail or mail it directly to Chesterbrook PTA, 1753 Kirby Road, McLean, VA 22101.
Contact Trisha Downey or Amanda Abraham with any questions.
Summer Quest 2014
SummerQuest Chesterbrook's very own summer camp program, Summer Quest, is just around the corner. Camps will run in week-long sessions July 7 - August 1 with offerings for rising kindergartners through rising 7th graders. We'll be doing morning, afternoon, and after camp care. We are aiming for a mid-February registration. You can get an idea of about the policies and range of classes from last year's program.

 

New Families! PTA Directory Updates
If your family enrolled at Chesterbrook since the directory was published in October - or your family's contact information has changed - please email [email protected]. Your family's information can be added or updated in the electronic directory throughout the year.  If you did not receive your copy of the printed directory or would like to purchase an additional copy, please email [email protected].  We will be working with AtoZ Directories again next year to help produce our directory. If you are interested in promoting a business in next year's directory, please contact AtoZ Directories at [email protected].

 

Special Education Resource Meeting
Fairfax County Public Schools offers a number of programs that might be of interest to parents, including programs on Special Education resources and other programs on technology and social issues.  Please see the brochure on some of the events that are coming in February. 

Winter Coat Drive a Success!!
 
Thank you so much to everyone who donated winter coats to our recent collection efforts. It was overwhelming to see how our community came together so quickly to meet this critical need. We donated over 100 new and used winter coats within 2 weeks!

The following is from a nearby school who received some of the coats:

"Thank you very much for the quick response to our request for coats for our students. We had completely run out, and with the recent cold weather, had many families in need of them.  Your generous and rapid assistance and deliveries are greatly appreciated."

 

GOTR/GOT Spring Session Registration
GOTR logoRegistration for the Spring Session of Girls on the Run (GOTR) and Girls on Track (GOT) began on January 20, 2014. GOTR/GOT is a program that combines training for a 5k (3.1 mile) running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts.  The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, and physical development.  Registration closes on February 17th, 2014. Late Registration goes from February 22nd through March 14, 2014. The Spring Season begins on March 3, 2014 and will go through most of May 2014. Practices will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30 pm. Chesterbrook plans to have 2 GOTR teams (3rd-5th grade) and 1 GOT team (6th grade only).  

There is a minimum of 8 participants needed for each team to be formed. GOTR should have space for 40 and GOT will have space for 15. To register, visit the GOTR of Nova website. All registrants will be put on a wait list until registration closes . If there are more registrants than spaces for Chesterbrook's GOTR/GOT programs, a lottery will take place to select participants. GOTR/GOT charges $165 per session and payment is made directly to GOTR on the website. Please note that credit cards will not be charged until the participant is accepted into the program.

NEW THIS SPRING!!! - The 5 k race will be held on 2 separate days, Saturday May 17th & Sunday May 18th. Which day our team will participate in the 5k is not yet announced. Girls on the Run of NOVA is confident that these changes will create a memorable experience for each and every girl and a day that runs smoothly for all participants. In addition, the races will be held at locations that are more convenient to our community - one at the Mosaic District in Merrifield and the other at a Taste of Arlington in Arlington. 

We are looking forward to a great GOTR/GOT Spring Session! For more information, contact Katia Luedtke.
FCPS Summer Camps
Registration is now open for the following Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) summer camps: Institute for the Arts (IFTA), Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA), STEM Camp, Tech Adventure Camp, and the new Robinson Extended Day Adult and Community Education (ACE) Enrichment programs. The new enrichment program will provide continuity to the existing camps for a full-day option of academically-focused programs for students.

General information and links to individual programs and registration are available online. Transportation is included in the tuition for all four camps. Discounted tuition is available for IFTA, E-IFTA, STEM Camp, and Tech Adventure Camp through April 4. Students should register for programs based on the grade they are in during the current 2013-14 school year. Details on each program are as follows:

Institute for the Arts (IFTA) will be held July 7-31 at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. Designed for students currently in grades 6 through 11, IFTA allows students to create, perform, experiment, and explore-all in various music, dance, visual art, and theatre venues. New this year: Students entering grades 10-12 can take the Economics and Personal Finance course as one of their class choices.

Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) will be held July 7-18 at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday. Designed for students currently in grades 3-5, E-IFTA offers participants a total immersion in the arts as they rotate through classes in dance, drama, music, and visual art.

Tech Adventure Camp will be held July 14-25 at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for students currently in grades 5-7. This camp allows students to explore careers and technology by rotating through eight areas including graphic design, automotive technology, culinary arts, television production, robotics, and computer technology.
STEM Camp will be held in two sessions at Robinson Secondary School: July 7-11 and July 28-August 1, both from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., daily. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Camp is a one-week camp for students currently in grades 3-5 to explore careers and technology as they rotate through activities focused on science- and mathematics-related concepts through hands-on engineering activity.

Robinson Extended Day Adult and Community Education (ACE) Enrichment programs will be held July 7-August 1 at Robinson Secondary School and will begin after IFTA, E-IFTA, Tech Adventure Camp, and STEM Camp end. These programs are for students currently in grades K-11 and will provide a continuum of activities for students who want additional programs and activities. Programs will include Foreign Language Experience Program (FLEX), Culinary Adventure Camp, Language Immersion Camp, Creative Writing, Computer Graphics, and Chess.

In addition, FCPS will offer several other summer learning programs to provide academic and enrichment opportunities for students in all grades. Visit http://www.fcps.edu/is/summer for more information, including registration dates, fees, and eligibility.


MCA Education & Youth Committee Looking for Volunteers
McLean Citizens Association The McLean Community Association (MCA) is looking for parents from Chesterbrook ES join the MCA's Education & Youth Committee.  Their next committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 7:30 pm, in the McLean Community Center.  

This year, the Education & Youth Committee supported MCA resolutions calling for more sidewalks near schools and worked with the Safe Community Coalition to promote their Race to Somewhere events.  The MCA passed a resolution urging the School Board to consider phasing in later high school start times, which increases the likelihood of some students benefitting from this initiative in September 2014.  Other high-priority topics this year include class size, student assessments, and FCPS audits, including independent evaluations of its programs.

Please consider coming to the February 18th meeting to learn more about the Education and Youth Committee of the MCA.
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The Chesterbrook PTA Newsletter (Weekly Digest and Digest PLUS) may contain external links to non-Chesterbrook ES PTA websites and access to certain third-party services, which may include, without limitation, social bookmarking services. These external links and services are provided as a convenience, and the Chesterbrook ES PTA is not responsible for the content of any linked website or use of any third-service service. Any external link to a non-Chesterbrook ES PTA website or service accessed from the Chesterbrook PTA Newsletter is independent from the Chesterbrook ES PTA, and the Chesterbrook ES PTA has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, privacy policy, terms of use and practices of such website or service.  Any such website or service has terms of use and a privacy policy different from the Chesterbrook ES PTA's privacy policy.  In addition, an external link to any non-Chesterbrook ES PTA website or access to a third-party service does not imply that the Chesterbrook ES PTA endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content or use of such website or service.  By using any such website or service, you expressly release the Chesterbrook ES PTA from any liability arising from your use of such third-party website and service and any related content.